Ontario

HULL'S LANDING 1812
On July 12, 1812, Brigadier-General William Hull,
Commander of the North Western Army of the United States,
landed with about 2,000 men near this site. He issued a
proclamation stating that he came to liberate Canada from
oppression. The British garrison at Amherstburg was too
weak to oppose the invasion but later fought several
skirmishes at the River Canard. On July 26, British
reinforcements under Colonel Henry Proctor arrived and,
on August 7-8, Hull withdrew to Detroit, leaving a small
garrison near Sandwich which retired on August 11 at
the approach of Major-General Isaac Brock.

Erected by the Ontario Archeaological and Historic Sites Board.

FIGHTING ISLAND 1838

On the night of February 23-24, 1838, a small force of
"Patriots" was ferried from Detroit to Fighting Island,
opposite here, whence an attack against Sandwich was
planned. They were joined the following day by "General"
Donald McLeod, a British army veteran and former resident
of Prescott who brought several hundred supporters from
Cleveland. Advised by the American general, Hugh Brady,
of the proposed attack, British regulars and Canadian
militia in the area moved against the insurgents on February
25th. After a sharp skirmish, the poorly armed "Patriots"
retreated to the Michigan shore where they were dispersed
by American troops.

Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board

SKIRMISHES AT THE CANARD RIVER

In the War of 1812 the first engagement in Canada involving
British and American forces in significant numbers occurred
here on the Canard River. On July 12, 1812, Brigadier-General
William Hull invaded Canada and encamped near Sandwich.
The British commander Lieutenant-Colonel T.B. St. George, con-
solidated his forces, consisting of regulars of the 41st Regi-
ment, Indians and Canadian militia, at Fort Malden, south of
the Canard, and stationed a picquet at the bridge. This out-
post was attacked on July 16 by Colonel Lewis Cass and about
280 enemy troops. After a brief stand the outnumbered British
fell back towards the fort. The Americans abandoned the po-
sition the following day, but later returned several times to
skirmish with the British who had reoccupied the post.

Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation
Minstry of Citizenship and Culture

ESCARMOUCHES PRÈS DE LA RIVIÈRE CANARD

Pendant la guerre de 1812, la première confrontation impor-
tante au Canada entre les forces britanniques et américaines
a lieu ici, près de la rivière Canard. Le 12 juillet 1812,
William Hull, brigadier général, envahit le Canada et campe
près de Sandwich. T.B. St. George, lieutenant-colonel britan-
nique, consolide ses forces comprenant des soldats du 41e
régiment, des Indiens et la milice canadienne, au Fort Malden, 
au sud de la rivière et garde le pont. Le 16 juillet, le colonel
Lewis Cass, accompagné d'environ 280 troupes, attaque cet
avant-poste. Après une brève opposition, les Britanniques,
surpassés en nombre, se retirent vers le fort. Les Américains
abandonnent leur position le lendemain mais y reviennent
plusieurs fois pour attaquer les Britanniques.

Érigé par la Fondation du patrimoine ontarien
Ministère des Affaires civiques et culturelles

CAPTURE OF THE "ANNE"
1838

On January 9, 1838, a force of Canadians and Americans
sympathizing with Mackenzie's Rebellion, sailed from
United States territory and landed on Bois Blanc Island.
The schooner "Anne", supporting the invasion, cruised
along the Canadian mainland firing on structures near Fort
Malden. Defending militia under Col. T. Radcliff returned
the fire, disabling the helmsman and damaging the rigging.
The "Anne" grounded on Elliott's Point and those aboard
were captured. Their leader, Dr. E.A. Theller, an Amercian
citizen of Irish birth, was later imprisoned in the Quebec
Citadel but made a successful escape.

Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

BOIS BLANC ISLAND BLOCKHOUSES

Following the evacuation of the British military post at Detroit
in 1796, a new establishment commenced opposite
here on the site of Amherstburg, and two blockhouses were
built on this island to serve as outposts. As a result of
armed armed attacks on Amherstburg by supporters of William
Lyon Mackenzie during the Rebellion of 1837-38, the
original defences on Bois Blanc were replaced in 1839 by
three new blockhouses and a picquet house enclosed by a
palisade. The latter was occupied by regular troops from Fort Malden
until 1851 and thereafter housed Enrolled Pensioners until 1859.
The two remaining blockhouses are situated at the centre
and south end of the island.

Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

COLONEL ARTHUR RANKIN 1816-1893

Born in Montreal, Rankin moved to this province about 1830
and qualified as a deputy provincial surveyor in 1836. The
next year he was commissioned as an ensign in the Queen's
Light Infantry and captured the enemy's flag in the "Battle of
Windsor" (December 1838). He commanded the Ninth Upper
Canadian Military District 1855-1861 and the 23rd Essex
Volunteer Light Infantry Battalion 1866-1868. Vigorous and
enterprising, Rankin organized the group of Ojibwa Indians which
toured Britain and staged the first "Wild West" show there in
1843. His business interests expanded to include shipping,
railroads, real estate and several mining projects in the Algoma
District. First elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1854
Rankin served three terms as the member for Essex.

Erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board
Ministry of Colleges and Universities

COLONEL MATTHEW ELLIOTT
1739-1814

Near this site stood the house erected in 1784 by
Matthew Elliott. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to the
American Colonies in 1761, and during the Revolution
served with the British forces as a captain in the Indian
Department. He was an Indian agent for the western
tribes 1790-95 and deputy superintendent of the Indian
Department 1795-98. Elliott represented Essex in the
legislative assembly 1801-12. As colonel of the 1st Essex
Militia he took part in the capture of Detroit, August 16, 1812,
and the battles of Fort Meigs, Moraviantown and Black Rock.

Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

THE "PHILO PARSONS" INCIDENT

On September 19, 1864, the American steamer "Philo Parsons"
was seized off Kelly's Island, about 35 miles southeast of
here, by some twenty Confederate sympathizers under John Y.
Beall, a Southern naval officer. The group, whose members had
embarked at Sandwich and Amherstburg, Canada West, intended
to free the Confederate inmates of a prison camp in Sandusky
Bay, Ohio. The plan included the capture of the U.S. gunboat
"Michigan" for use in commerce raiding and attacks on Great
Lakes ports. Arriving off Sandusky Bay the raiders found
the "Michigan" forewarned and called off the operation. They
returned the following morning to Sandwich, abandoned the
steamer and dispersed.

Erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board
Department of Public Records and Archives of Ontario

THE BATTLE OF PELEE ISLAND 1838

On February 26, 1838, a group of over 300 American supporters
of William Lyon Mackenzie's rebellion, led by "Major" Lester
Hoadley, captured this island. In response, Colonel John Maitland,
commanding the Western District, dispatched five infantry com-
panies supported by militia and Indians across the ice from
Amherstburg. On March 3, fleeing a southward sweep by the
main force, the Americans were intercepted off-shore from here
by a detachment of 126 men led by Captain George Browne.
Browne's force lost five the enemy's, at least eleven killed, in-
cluding its leader, and eleven taken prisoner. Following closely
the defeat of rebel supporters on Fighting Island (February 25),
this victory marked the second time in one week that a force
invading Canadian territory had been repulsed.

Erected by the Archaeological and Heritage Sites Board
Minisry of Colleges and University

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